asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to overcome the shortages of household coal at coal yards and depots.
The National Coal Board, with the co-operation of the unions, has taken measures to increase the proportion of house coal in overall production. Dispatches of house coal by the Board to merchants are being made at a higher rate than last year.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish figures for current stocks of domestic coal, at the pithead and with merchants; and how present stocks compare with those for the same period in each of the past three years.
Figures of stocks in the hands of merchants are not available. Coal stocks, suitable for the domestic market, at pit heads and opencast site.
for the week ending 15th October 1977 and at the same periods in the last three years were as follows:
Thousands of tons
| |
| Week ending 15 10 77 | 114 |
| Week ending 16 10 76 | 382 |
| Week ending 18 10 75 | 873 |
| Week ending 19 10 74 | 601 |
asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many weeks of estimated consumption of domestic coal are now in stock at pit heads and in merchants yards; and if he is satisfied with the current level of stocks.
Precise figures of stocks of domestic coal in the hands of merchants are not available but the National Coal Board and the coal trade estimate that stocks at both pit heads and merchants yards are equivalent to around three weeks' consumption. This is a lower level than is desirable at this time of the year. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to the hon. Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) about the measures the National Coal Board is taking to increase output.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many weeks of estimated consumption of non-domestic coal are currently in stock; how the stock
| END OCTOBER STOCKS | ||||||||
| Year | Total | Total Distributed | Power Stations | Coke Ovens | Other | million tons Undistributed | ||
| 1977 | … | … | 30·3 | 21·3 | 19·1 | 2·0 | 0·2 | 9·0 |
| 1976 | … | … | 34·4 | 23·8 | 21·2 | 2·4 | 0·2 | 10·6 |
| 1975 | … | … | 29·9 | 20·7 | 18·4 | 2·1 | 0·2 | 9·2 |
| 1974 | … | … | 21·6 | 15·4 | 13·6 | 1·5 | 0·3 | 6·2 |
| 1973 | … | … | 34·9 | 21·7 | 19·6 | 1·8 | 0·3 | 13·2 |
| 1972 | … | … | 28·9 | 18·9 | 17·0 | 1·6 | 0·3 | 10·0 |
asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement about the level of coal stocks in the United Kingdom in November 1977; and what was the level of coal stocks in November of each of the last five years.
The total level of coal stocks held at the beginning of November was 30 million tons. Although lower than the 34 million tons held at the compares with the same period in each of the past three years; and if he is satisfied that present stock levels are adequate.
The figure for the total of non-domestic coal stocks at the end of October is 30 million tons. As a pre-winter stock this is adequate. It does not include stocks held at industrial premises and by merchants, statistics of which are not available. Distributed stocks included in the figure are held at mainly power stations and coke ovens. They represent six to eight weeks' consumption under normal operating conditions. The comparable stock figures for the last three years are as follows:
| Million tons | |
| End October 1976 | 34 |
| End October 1975 | 29 |
| End October 1974 | 21 |
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are now the stocks of coal at pit head, electric power stations, in special stocks, and with coal merchants; and how this compares with the previous five years at the same time of year.
Such figures are published regularly in Energy Trends, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The figures are as follows:comparable date last year, it is a satisfactory overall level.The comparable figures for the beginning of November for the last five years are:
| Million tons | |
| 1976 | 34 |
| 1975 | 30 |
| 1974 | 22 |
| 1973 | 35 |
| 1972 | 29 |